Essential Research coronavirus latest

Support rising for an easing of coronavirus restrictions, and strong backing for Kristina Keneally’s contentious call for migration cuts.

The usual weekly Essential Research coronavirus poll finds “only a quarter” of respondents now consider it too soon to be easing coronavirus restrictions, down from a peak of 49% in mid-April. There was also strong support for a range of fresh restrictions being imposed if there is a new surge of cases, but not for making the coronavirus app compulsory, which only 38% supported. Only 45% were confident the government would be able to adequately protect data from the app, and 44% were confident the government itself would not misuse it. Kristina Keneally’s call for a reduction in temporary migration after the pandemic had the support of 67% of respondents. All this detail is derived from The Guardian, which also tells us that the number of respondents who are “quite concerned” about the virus is up three points since last week to 49%, but without the “very concerned” figure it’s hard to know what if anything to make of that. The full report from the pollster should be published later today.

UPDATE: Full report here. The government reaches new heights on the eighth weekly iteration of the question as to how well it is handling the crisis, with good up five points to 71% and poor down one to 13%. The goodwill extends to state governments, who are collectively up three on good to 73% and steady on poor at 12%. The poll was conducted Thursday to Sunday from a sample of 1067.

Author: William Bowe

William Bowe is a Perth-based election analyst and occasional teacher of political science. His blog, The Poll Bludger, has existed in one form or another since 2004, and is one of the most heavily trafficked websites on Australian politics.

1,996 comments on “Essential Research coronavirus latest”

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  1. You could use dogs on cats. African Painted Wolves are known to kill leopards so there is no reason why it couldn’t work.

  3. boerwar says:
    Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 3:39 pm

    We are fortunate that he appears to like us and Pine Gap and Harold E Holt are both critical US Global Strategic infrastructure.

  4. They’ve done great things on our Antarctic Islands.

    Indeed. They were a little different tho – more controlled environment and with specialist teams.

    Feral cats on KI have a direct impact on sheep graziers. There is no doubt this is a strong political impetus (not just coming from greenies) and a source of assistance.

  5. Can anyone provide a precis (100 words or less) of Freydenberg’s contribution to Parliament today?

    This is my follow up question to the one about cane toads.

  6. Simon,

    The problem then occurs when the cats are gone then rats and mice explode which is terrible for native birds. They should also do a baiting program.

    Is KI Kangaroo or King Island?

  7. Cane toads were easy when we had single use bags. Two bags one covering right hand the second open ready. Pick up toad with covered hand and place in opened bag. Close bag with toads I’m very tightly.

    If humane place bag in freezer for a while and then place dead toads in garbage bin. If heartless bastard then just put bag with live toads straight into garbage bin.

  9. Marlesy is on about $250 000 plus expenses.
    Dutto is on about $350 000 plus expenses.
    No wonder they need a nap!
    If we were to discuss the politicians in the same way we discuss cats and dogs, their relative pros and cons, and ask the question as to their relative value for money! Umm!
    John Sharp was mentioned earlier. A quick glance at the National leaders’ post political careers and renumeration provides a good measure of value for money. It certaiinly explains why as a party, they are called the Nationals.
    Remember Mark Vaile anyone? Barnaby’s getting tired thinking about it all. It was certainly in bad taste when it was told to me recently that the Nationals rightly should be renamed the Country party. Or not?

  10. Fulvio

    Before the virus, Australia’s finances were as strong as ever.
    Crossing the bridge may cause a slump in revenue, but we’re not going to change our policies, no sirree.

  11. Buce – Kangaroo Island. So big area effort. Also no foxes to help control cats. As for mice, the native raptors would be… rapt.
    From what I dared ask… the official use of the dogs is detection and flushing out of the cat to be killed by the hunter as humanely as possible.

    I am a big fan of introducing genetically modified female cats. Programmed to emit ultra strong signals that she is on heat but produces sterile males and females that have the same modification.
    Called the Trojan Female.

  13. Talking about cats and dogs highlights how out of wrack the Australian ecosystem is because if there were medium and larger native predators then the cats and dogs would be naturally kept in check.

  14. Cats have been blamed for much extinction of native animals, although I can’t recall if any particular species’ extinction has been definitely linked to them.
    I think people often overlook the work of another alien species Europeans brought to this country: rats.
    These rodents have been responsible for the destruction of many birds in Australia, mainly through their raiding of nests. Guess what animal is best placed to keep rats in check? The feline.
    It’s no accident that for centuries, cats were kept to guard grain silos against mice. Our humble pussy friends have also been credited with helping to combat the Black Death by reducing the rat population.
    I think another point to consider is that we cannot turn this country back to what it was before European settlement. Exotic plants and animals are so well established that removing them might cause as much damage as it’s meant to avoid.
    Rabbits are probably the biggest exotic nuisance this country has seen. But some conservationists warn that as rabbits now form a large part of the diet of the native wedge-tailed eagle, eradicating rabbits would push the eagle into preying on more of our native fauna.
    There are no simple answers. I think the best approach is to manage the existing spread of exotic and native animals and plants and live with them as best we can.

  17. Daniel Andrews needs to look for a new Treasurer who hasn’t got links with Transurban.

    I am in favour of the road project but Transurbans latest extortion attempt was very predictable.

    Andrews should tear the contract up if Transurban is in breach and the Govt fund the remaining work then toll it to pay for it.

  19. You got that idea from all those wasted nights at the disco in your misspent youth.

    You never forget a trojan female.

  20. Mexicanbeemer
    “Talking about cats and dogs highlights how out of wrack the Australian ecosystem is because if there were medium and larger native predators then the cats and dogs would be naturally kept in check.”

    Thylacines could be useful. Or even better, the marsupial ‘lion’ Thylacoleo. But it disappeared along with the other megafauna.

    We still have dropbears. But they only target Japanese tourists. 🙁

  24. Media telling us over and over how poor Joshy Highpants WOULD have been delivering Australia’s first SURPLUS in 10 years……..

  25. Labor need to go hard now.
    They need to really try.
    They need to get in Joshy and Scrooters face and stay there.
    Time is slipping by.

  26. The trouble with the “Don’t listen to what Trump says, only what the US does” is that it does not stand any kind of reasonable test of logic……………
    For instance, is the US the same as Trump? Is there a kind of US operating at another level sans Trump – or vice versa? Is all, some or none of what Trump says lies/truth/politics/ravings? Who knows? Normally, we would not care but the stakes are too high at the moment.
    What is patently obvious is that while Trump is playing at being a leader, the Chinese are running rings round him and the rest of the West.
    The fact that neither Boris or Trump had enough gumption to actually protect their citizens says it all……….
    The fact that Putin is doing little better puts them all in the same, useless, popularity-seeking boat…

  27. Dan Tehan has a collection of boring phrases that he repeats in various order in response to questions.

    This pandemic, medical experts, advice, we always said we wanted …

    He’s pretending he’s had a win over Dan Andrews!

  29. As someone who has had experience with arranging for skilled visa candidates at my worksite I will add this to the debate.

    The provider we initially planned to used gave us extensive advice about how to fulfil the criteria even if we hadn’t. In our case we had been understaffed for nearly 18 months and had tried various initiatives including subsidised accomodation very flexible rosters, educational opportunities to name just a few.

    We found a more ethical provider and arranged for 2 staff. After they arrived they were given 3 months free accomodation. We had to provide extensive orientation to ensure they met relevant standards. Within a month of them paying off the money we had paid to sponsor them they were both snapped up by the local hospital that could provide higher wages for a lower work load. By the time the next two staff arrived, and the process had repeated itself we had managed to upskill some of our existing local workplace to fill future gaps.

    As a result I believe that the industry should be the sponsor with the cost repaid by the host employer and that the industry become responsible for arranging for training of local candidates in equal number to those imported. Over time the need for importing skills would diminish. Visa workers should also be tied to the region that has sponsored them, so many health workers imported to fill gaps in rural areas very quickly find sponsored employment in larger regional areas.

  30. BREAKING: Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has been tested for Covid-19 following his coughing fit in Parliament, on the advice of the deputy chief medical officer. He's now in self-isolation at home in Canberra awaiting the test results, likely tomorrow.— Karen Middleton (@KarenMMiddleton) May 12, 2020

  32. Not when you found out what Sally was really packing!

    “I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly. A quarrel, but nothing wherefore. Oh, that men should put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains! That we should, with joy, pleasance revel and applause, transform ourselves into beasts!”

  35. BREAKING: Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has been tested for Covid-19 following his coughing fit in Parliament

    Out of the mouths of babes oft times come germs.

  37. mundo

    So sad for poor wee Josh, just a few short months ago he
    was dreamin’ of becoming a Coalition ‘Legend’ ,Mr Back in Black , Mr Surplus. Now ? looking good for a Gold Medal for overseeing the biggest EVA deficit. No amount of ‘but but but the virus’ will wash away the reality he did not get to deliver the ‘Sacred Surplus’. It will be all coulda woulda.

  38. For Fulvio ….

    Frydenberg “our economic situation is sobering (insert 80 coughs) but if you don’t social distance then the situation will become disastrous”. 97 words.

  50. Carrick Ryan
    @realCarrickRyan
    ·
    36s
    As someone who played rugby for decades, it’s known to you that you’re risking brain and spinal injuries every time you run out on the field.

    Seems obtuse to suddenly have health concerns over a flu jab that almost every other member of society takes without issue.

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